Part classifying device

ABSTRACT

A device for classifying parts according to size by utilizing a motor rotated cylinder and a gauge blade, which is adjustable positioned relative to the periphery of the cylinder to form an open runway that progressively increases in size. A hopper with the parts to be classified, discharges the parts unto the runway and gravity and the rotating cylinder combine to cause the parts to move along the runway. When a part reaches an opening of a size corresponding to the part size, the part drops down into a bin which collects and stores all parts of this size. The same motor that rotates the cylinder is also employed to vibrate the hopper to facilitate the transfer of the parts from the hopper unto the runway.

United States Patent Hall et al. 51 May 9, 1972 54] PART CLASSIFYINGDEVICE 3,260,364 7/I 966 England ..209/107 [72] Inventors: at??? l g s fK Moore Primary Eraminer-Richard A. Schacher I lamston t 0 Attorney-E.J. Holler and Donald K. Wedding [73] Assignee: Owens-Illinois, Inc.

[57] ABSTRACT [22] Filed: Oct. 24, 1969 A device for classifying partsaccording to size by utilizing a [2 P 869'190 motor rotated cylinder anda gauge blade, which is adjustable positioned relative to the peripheryof the cylinder to form an [52] "209/101 open runway that progressivelyincreases in size. A hopper [51] lnt.Cl ..B07b 13/04 with the Pans to beclassified discharges the Parts the [58] Field of Search h "2097101 9799 I06 107 runway and gravity and the rotating cylinder combine to causethe parts to move along the runway. When a part reaches an 56]References Cited opening of a size corresponding to the part size, thepart drops down into a bin which collects and stores all parts of thissize. UNITED T TES PATENTS The same motor that rotates the cylinder isalso employed to vibrate the hopper to facilitate the transfer of theparts from 932,783 8/1909 Johnsonm. 209 101 the hopper meme runway1,022,655 4/1912 Brine ...209/10l l, l 39,7l 4 5/1915 Parker ..209/l0lClaims, 3 Drawing Figures 10 5 -r- 24 7e 2e 74 If 1/ l 7 i .4 /z8 2a 541 46 4'6 42 i 9 as 90 50 58 l f 86 st \Ia PART CLASSIFYING DEVICE Thisinvention relates to improvements in part size classifying devices,adapted, although not exclusively for classifying relatively smallparts.

The sorting or classifying of parts of spherical and plural sidedshapes, e.g., balls, rods, cylinders, wafers, etc., when small, presentsboth handling and accurate measuring problems. By way of example, ifglass or plastic beads are to be of some precise dimension, such as 9mils, for purposes of accurate spacing of adjacent parts, a screen mightbe used which had openings of 9 mils. The beads to be classified wouldbe placed on this screen and as this screen is manipulated those beadsover 9 mils would be retained by the screen, while those under, wouldpass through the 9 mil openings. Next it would be necessary to rescreenthe beads, which had been determined to be 9 mils or under in size, withanother screen that perhaps had openings of 8.9 mils. Those beads whichwould be retained by the 8.9 mil opening screen could be expected tohave approximately a 9 mil size. This method as can be appreciated istime consuming, and also of questionable accuracy since the screenopenings tend to distort and increase in size during usage and the beadstend to become trapped in the openings. Devices proposed for overcomingthese problems are generally complicated as well as relatively costly.

With the foregoing in mind, a new and different part size classifyingdevice is contemplated that is simple in construction and versatile inapplication, such that it can be used to classify parts of the variedshapes and sizes.

Also contemplated is a part size classifying device that utilizesgravity and a rotating cylinder to generate part movement along arunway, where the parts are classified as to size.

A related objective is a unique provision for utilizing a motor, both torotate the cylinder, and also to vibrate a parts hopper to facilitatethe transfer of the parts from the hopper onto the runway.

Another objective is a part size classifying device that is easilyadjusted and can be employed to classify parts of several differentsizes and shapes over a relatively large range.

A further objective is a part size classifying device that affords arunway with a progressively increasing size opening through which partsof corresponding size drop into bins prvided for collecting parts ofthat size.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention willbecome apparent from the following description and the accompanyingdrawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a top elevational view, partially, schematic of a part sizeclassifying device, incorporating the principles of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the device; and

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the device taken along line 3--3 in FIG.1.

Referring to the drawings in detail and initially to FIGS. 1 and 2, thenumeral 10, denotes a base on which is positioned a support or platform12. The platform 12 has one end elevated by an elongated threaded bolt14 which is swivelly connected to the base 16. The bolt 14 extendsthrough an opening in an end plate 18 on the platform 12. This end plate18 engages a nut 20 on the bolt 14; thus, as the nut 20 is moved up anddown on the bolt 14 the elevation of the platform 12 can be changed, aswill become apparent, to increase or decrease the speed at which partsare fed. The opposite end of the platform abuts a stop 22. By employingthis arrangement including the base and the elongated threaded bolt 14,the device is conveniently transportable to different locations. Ofcourse, if this feature is not required, the device can be permanentlyattached to something that would serve as a base, and also if the angleof the platform 12 would not require adjustment, this angle could befixed in any appropriate way.

Rotatably positioned on the platform 12 is a cylinder 24. The cylinder24 is journaled to the platform 12 at its opposite ends by suitablebearings 26 and 28. The cylinder 24 should have a relatively good finishon the periphery for accuracy and wear inhibiting purposes, andtherefore can be fonned of stainless steel or any other material thatcan be accurately machined and polished. Also the cylinder 24 is shownas hollow, but it could be solid or partially solid.

As viewed in FIG. 3 the cylinder 24 has positioned to the side andpartially below it, a series of bins 30. These bins 30 are closed by anend cover 32 that, if required, may be held in place by screws or thelike. The parts can be withdrawn from each bin 30 through openings whichare normally closed by stop pins 36.

A gauge blade designated by the numeral 40 has a hardened gauge edge 42and slots 44 through which extend screws 46. These screws 46 attach tothe gauge blade 40 to the bins 30 or some part of the support for thecylinder 24, and also permit adjustment of the gauge edge 42 withrespect to the periphery of the cylinder 24 together form a pans runway48 with a parts entrance at 50. The parts runway 48 has along its lengtha V- shaped opening 52. The size of this V-shaped opening 52 can beestablished by adjusting the gauge edge 42 relative to the periphery ofthe cylinder 24 with feeler gauges or the like. The opening 52 couldhave the same dimensions along its entire extent but with a V-shapedopening as the parts proceed along the runway 48, the smaller partsfirst drop into the bins 30 and then subsequently the larger parts. Inthis way a parts sizing takes place over whatever the selected range is.Also, the blade 40 can be slightly tilted as shown in FIG. 3 by shims tofurther facilitate part movement.

The parts for illustration purposes and without limitation are shown asspheroids or balls, but could be plural sided and in the form of rods,cylinders, wafers, squares, rectangles, including tapers, etc. Theseparts are supplied to the parts runway entrance 50 from a hopper 54,which has its exit end at 56, communicating with the entrance 50. Thehopper 54 is supported on the platform 12 by a bracket 58 that permitsthe hopper 54 to be vibrated, as will be further discussed. Anyappropriate provision can be made for supplying the parts to the hopper54, e.g., a funnel shaped storage bin 60 may be positioned above thehopper 54 so that by gravity the parts to be sized flow into the end ofthe hopper 54.

The cylinder 24 is rotated by a motor shown at 62. The motor 62 may beof any suitable kind. In the FIG. 1 embodiments; the motor 62 iselectrically operated and is drive connected to the cylinder 24 throughsuitable direction changing gearing 64 and a drive shaft 66, which isconnected to the cylinder 24 by a coupling 68. The gearing 64 can beeliminated if the direction change is not required.

An appropriate motor controller 70 is connected to an AC source 72,which typically provides 60 cycle power at US volts. By operating thecontroller 70, the motor 62 can be operated to rotate the drive shaft 66at different selected speeds.

During operation the cylinder 24 revolves outwardly and upwardlyrelative to the gauge blade 40. As viewed in FIG. 3, this is in aclock-wise direction and assures that the parts are not forced into theV-shaped opening 52 and damaged.

Because of this direction of rotation, there is a tendency with certaintype parts for the parts to attach themselves to the periphery of thecylinder 24 as it rotates. To prevent this, a scraper blade shown at 72is pivotably secured at its ends to upstanding flanges 74 and 76 on theplatfonn 12. In its FIG. 3 position a scraper blade edge denoted at 78will engage any part that attaches to the periphery of the cylinder 24and remove it so that it will drop down unto the runway 48. The scraperblade 72 is manually movable into and out of the wiping position but canbe spring biased to the wiping position or even mechanically orotherwise maintained in this latter position.

To facilitate the transfer of the parts from the hopper 54 to the runway48, the hopper 54 can be vibrated in various known ways, such asultra-sonically or mechanically. In the FIG. 1 embodiment the motor 62is used for this purpose. As depicted in FIG. 2 the end of the motor 62has a cam 80 with an olT-set portion 82. A flexible rod 84, which issuspended on the platform 12 between its ends 86 and 88, has the end 86riding on the surface of the cam 80. The other end 88 is attached orloosely engages, the side of the hopper 54.

For adjustment purposes, the flexible rod 84 has a loop 90 that can beraised or lowered by an adjusting screw 92 to vary the extent oramplitude of the vibrations generated when the offset portion 82 of thecam 80 moves the end 88 up and down. These up and down movements aretransferred to the end 88 and generate the vibrations of the hopper 54so as to urge the parts out the exit end 56 and unto the runway 48. If

94, has bends therein, and is placed in the hopper 54 for the parts sothat during operation the elongated member 94 prevents the small partsfrom piling up, particularly in the vicinity of the exit 56.

In operation, the gauge blade 40 is first adjusted to establish thedesired dimensions at each of the ends so that the openings opposite thebins 30 have a dimension that corresponds to the size of the parts to becollected in that bin 30. Also the nut on the rod 14 is adjusted so thatthe end of the platform 12 is elevated sufficiently for achieving thedesired speed of movement of the parts along the runway 48. Next theparts are transferred from the storage bin 60 to the hopper 54 and thenthe motor controller 70 is adjusted to start the motor 62 operating atthe desired drive speed for the cylinder 24. The motor 62 will vibratethe hopper 54 and the parts will enter at the runway entrance 50. Theparts now move along the runway 40 due to the combination of gravityforces and the rotation of the cylinder 24, i.e., the rotation of thecylinder 24 revolves the parts and gravity imposes the force that causesthe parts to move down the runway 48. As a certain size part reaches anopening with a corresponding size, the part will drop down into the bin30, which is to collect parts ofthis size. This will continue until allof the parts placed in the hopper 54 are in one of the bins 30. Thoseparts that are oversize, or larger than the maximum opening accumulateat the exit of the V-shaped opening 50 and may be directed by theupright flange 76 to some collecting station (not shown). Also, duringthis operation if any of the parts stick to the periphery of thecylinder 24, they will be removed by the scraper blade 72 and drop backunto the runway 48 so that they can be sized. At the completion of a runthe now properly sized parts can be removed from each of the bins afterseparating the stop pins 36 from the bin openings. In the event that itis desired to further classify the undersize and oversize parts, theycan be collected and run through separate appropriately adjustedclassifying devices or rerun through the same devise after the properadjustments are made. a

Without limitation and for demonstration purposes only, glass andplastic beads have been classified employing a cylinder 24 that had a 2/2 inch diameter and was 8 inches long. The motor 62 used was of the DCshunt wound type, and

wa's a mo del 2T60-l00 made by the Gerald K. l-leller,Com-

pany, Las Vegas, Nevada. This model includes the gearing 64,

bins positioned on the platform and extending from the entrance end tothe other end of the cylinder, a gauge blade adjustably positionedrelative to the bins and the periphery of the cylinder so that an edgethereof forms a parts runway on one side of the cylinder with an openingtherebetween of a predetermined increasing size from the part entranceto the other end of the cylinder, a hopper containing parts to be sized,the hopper being arranged on the support with the exit thereof openinginto the entrance end of the cylinder so that parts proceed therefromand along the runway until the part size corresponds to the opening sizeand the part drops therethrough into the bin for that size part, a motormounted on the support and drive connected to the cylinder so as torotatethe cylinder, motor controller means varying the speed, a scraperblade positioned relative to the periphery of the cylinder and therunway to remove parts attaching to the cylinder periphery, meansvibrating the hopper, the hopper vibrating means including an offset cammember drive conand provided a choice of speeds at the drive shaft 66from O to 1 40 rpm in either direction at an approximate torque of 3.7

inch pounds. The motor controller 70 was model S-l0 made by the samecompany. The platform 12 was inclined approximately 20 with respect tothe base 10 and the gauge blade 40 was adjusted so that at the entranceend 50, the opening was 9 mils and at the exit end the opening was 9.5mils. Ten bins 30 were used and the cylinder 24 was rotated at between10 and 12 rpm by the aforementioned motor 62. To reduce adhesion of thebeads to the cylinder 24 and to the gauge blade 40, the device wasoperated in an environment with a relative humidity of approximately 20percent.

The invention is to be limited only by the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a device for classifying parts according to size, the combinationof a base, a support having an end thereof adjustably elevated relativeto the base, a cylinder rotatably positioned on the support so that thepart entrance end thereof is elevated above the other end thereof, aseries of part receiving nected to a motor, a flexible rod-like membermounted between the ends thereof on the support and having the oppositeends respectively engaging the cam and the hopper so as to vibrate thehopper when the motor is operated, and means coacting with the rod-likemember to adjust the amplitude of the vibrations imposed on the hopperv2. A device as described in claim 1 wherein the hopper is elongated andincludes an elongated member positioned lengthwise in the hopper tofacilitate the alignment of parts discharged unto the runway.

3. A device for classifying elements by size comprising, in

combination,

a. support means,

b. a cylinder rotatably mounted on the support means and having asubstantially straight line profile peripheral surface,

c. means for rotating the cylinder,

d. an elongated gauge blade having a gauge edge,

e. adjustment means for mounting said gauge blade on said support meanswith said gauge edge facing the peripheral surface of said cylinder toform a runway for said elements therebetween, and

f. means for feeding said elements onto said runway at one end thereof,

g. said adjustment means being adapted to support said gauge blade at aslight tilt with respect to the horizontal to maintain said elementsagainst the peripheral surface of said cylinder and to permit movementduring adjustment of said gauge blade along a flat plane extending awayfrom the peripheral surface of said cylinder, one end of said elongatedgauge blade being independently adjustable with respect to the oppositeend thereof whereby the width of the runway opening between the gaugeedge and the peripheral surface of said cylinder may be independentlyadjusted at the opposite ends thereof so that said runway opening may beof a predetermined increasing size extending from said one end to theopposite end thereof and 'said elements will pass between saidperipheral surface of the cylinder and said gauge edge at various pointsalong said runway depending upon the size of each element.

4. A classifying device as described in claim 3, further comprising ascraper element having an edge thereof positioned relative to theperiphery of the cylinder so as to separate parts from the cylinderperiphery as the cylinder is rotated.

5. A classifying device as defined in claim 3 further comprising meansfor receiving the elements passing through said runway opening.

6. A classifying device as defined in claim 5 wherein said receivingmeans comprises a plurality of compartments arranged in a row beneaththe runway opening, each compartment receiving a different size elementdependent upon the width of the runway opening immediately above eachcompartment.

ble rod-like member extending between said cam and said hopper so as tovibrate the hopper, and means coacting with the rod-like member toadjust the amplitude of the vibrations imposed on the hopper.

10. A classifying device as defined in claim 9 wherein said hopper iselongated and includes an elongated member positioned lengthwise in thehopper to facilitate the alignment of elements discharged onto saidrunway opening.

1. In a device for classifying parts according to size, the combinationof a base, a support having an end thereof adjustably elevated relativeto the base, a cylinder rotatably positioned on the support so that thepart entrance end thereof is elevated above the other end thereof, aseries of part receiving bins positioned on the platform and extendingfrom the entrance end to the other end of the cylinder, a gauge bladeadjustably positioned relative to the bins and the periphery of thecylinder so that an edge thereof forms a parts runway on one side of thecylinder with an opening therebetween of a predetermined increasing sizefrom the part entrance to the other end of the cylinder, a hoppercontaining parts to be sized, the hopper being arranged on the supportwith the exit thereof opening into the entrance end of the cylinder sothat parts proceed therefrom and along the runway until the part sizecorresponds to the opening size and the part drops therethrough into thebin for that size part, a motor mounted on the support and driveconnected to the cylinder so as to rotate the cylinder, motor controllermeans varying the speed, a scraper blade positioned relative to theperiphery of the cylinder and the runway to remove parts attaching tothe cylinder periphery, means vibrating the hopper, the hopper vibratingmeans including an offset cam member drive connected to a motor, aflexible rod-like member mounted between the ends thereof on the supportand having the opposite ends respectively engaging the cam and thehopper so as to vibrate the hopper when the motor is operated, and meanscoacting with the rod-like member to adjust the amplitude of thevibrations imposed on the hopper.
 2. A device as described in claim 1wherein the hopper is elongated and includes an elongated memberpositioned lengthwise in the hopper to facilitate the alignment of partsdischarged unto the runway.
 3. A device for classifying eleMents by sizecomprising, in combination, a. support means, b. a cylinder rotatablymounted on the support means and having a substantially straight lineprofile peripheral surface, c. means for rotating the cylinder, d. anelongated gauge blade having a gauge edge, e. adjustment means formounting said gauge blade on said support means with said gauge edgefacing the peripheral surface of said cylinder to form a runway for saidelements therebetween, and f. means for feeding said elements onto saidrunway at one end thereof, g. said adjustment means being adapted tosupport said gauge blade at a slight tilt with respect to the horizontalto maintain said elements against the peripheral surface of saidcylinder and to permit movement during adjustment of said gauge bladealong a flat plane extending away from the peripheral surface of saidcylinder, one end of said elongated gauge blade being independentlyadjustable with respect to the opposite end thereof whereby the width ofthe runway opening between the gauge edge and the peripheral surface ofsaid cylinder may be independently adjusted at the opposite ends thereofso that said runway opening may be of a predetermined increasing sizeextending from said one end to the opposite end thereof and saidelements will pass between said peripheral surface of the cylinder andsaid gauge edge at various points along said runway depending upon thesize of each element.
 4. A classifying device as described in claim 3,further comprising a scraper element having an edge thereof positionedrelative to the periphery of the cylinder so as to separate parts fromthe cylinder periphery as the cylinder is rotated.
 5. A classifyingdevice as defined in claim 3 further comprising means for receiving theelements passing through said runway opening.
 6. A classifying device asdefined in claim 5 wherein said receiving means comprises a plurality ofcompartments arranged in a row beneath the runway opening, eachcompartment receiving a different size element dependent upon the widthof the runway opening immediately above each compartment.
 7. Aclassifying device as defined in claim 3 wherein said feed meanscomprises a hopper having an outlet positioned adjacent said one end ofthe runway opening.
 8. A classifying device as defined in claim 7further comprising means operated by the means for rotating the cylinderfor vibrating said hopper to facilitate the discharge of the elementsfrom the hopper.
 9. A classifying device as defined in claim 8 whereinsaid hopper vibrating means comprises an offset cam member driveconnected to the means for rotating the cylinder, a flexible rod-likemember extending between said cam and said hopper so as to vibrate thehopper, and means coacting with the rod-like member to adjust theamplitude of the vibrations imposed on the hopper.
 10. A classifyingdevice as defined in claim 9 wherein said hopper is elongated andincludes an elongated member positioned lengthwise in the hopper tofacilitate the alignment of elements discharged onto said runwayopening.